Put a pause on the learning apps and experience something new — summer means taking a step back
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Gareth Reid has some perhaps unexpected advice for parents of keen students.
“Be a tourist in your own town,” says the director of Turnbull School. He goes on to explain: “summer is a fun time for students and even their parents to have some downtime. Most students have worked hard all year, so they should take a break.”
Reid says Ottawa is a wonderful city to explore with plenty of museums and outdoor spaces to get out and enjoy. There are festivals scheduled for every weekend in the nation’s capital during the summer, the perfect opportunity to do something different.
“If the family has planned a trip, that’s a chance to explore and discover something new about a city you’re visiting or a natural habitat if you’re on a camping trip,” says Reid. “It’s a way for the whole family to participate.”
Spending some time at home? “Even helping out around the house and doing some chores makes a break from schoolwork,” says Reid.
The educator says it’s important to not let older kids and teens sleep all day, as eight weeks of doing nothing is not a good idea.
“Set some age-specific rules and boundaries,” says Reid. “It’s good to keep some kind of schedule and make decisions of what to do as a family with some fun choices like a bike ride or heading to the library or going for a walk in a local park.” Reid says that if there is a need for academic help, make it a limited time.
“If you’re concerned about skills diminishing over the summer, ask for a written story about an experience, or a book they’ve just read,” says Reid. “But make it an achievable goal and meaningful.”
CECCE (Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est) provides several options for parents and students to stay engaged over the summer without the formality of a classroom setting, says Jean-Marc Dupont, director of Learning Support Services at CECCE.
“Our day camps offer [an opportunity for] French language learners to brush up on language skills and for new immigrants to learn about the city and what Canada is about,” says Dupont. “And our camps are dynamic with many other activities like nature walks, visits to museums, sports fun and barbeques for families to participate in.” Dupont says CECCE also offers other programs that allow students to get ahead on high school credits, and they even offer courses in international languages, so academically inclined students can start to learn or improve on a second language over the summer.
He also says camps helps immigrant parents. “These parents now have some free time to get organized and take care of some administrative duties while knowing their children are learning skills and discovering Canadian concepts that will help them in the school year,” says Dupont. “And because the camps are free, that helps as well.” Dupont says in the past they have had the camps involved in the community and they do bring in guest speakers. “Our camps are for fun over the summer,” says Dupont. “And the teachers enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that helps build good relationships with the students. It also reinforces the welcoming nature we encourage at CECCE for everyone, but especially for our immigrant students and their families. For them,” he says, “we are a good resource.”
“We want to provide that option for our students and parents to relax and have some fun over the summer, but to stay engaged and be ready for the new school year,” Dupont adds.
Reid chimes in. “Our summers are short, so get out and enjoy them and refresh those academic batteries for the fall.”
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